Salmon Creek is a 26 miles (42 km) tributary stream within Clark County, Washington. Beginning from its forested headwaters on Elkhorn Mountain, Salmon Creek passes through rural, agricultural, residential, and urban areas before flowing into the Lake River just north of Lake Vancouver.[1]
Contents |
The Salmon Creek Watershed extends from the foothills of the Cascade Range just east of Hockinson, west to Lake River on the Columbia River flood plain and comprises 89 square miles (230 km2) of rural, residential, commercial, forest, and industrial land near the center of Clark County.[2] The watershed includes five major tributaries: Mill Creek, Woodin Creek, Rock Creek, Morgan Creek, and Curtin Creek. In addition, there are several smaller creeks near Vancouver such as Cougar Creek, Curtis Creek, Tenny Creek, LaLonde Creek, and Suds Creek as well as many small unnamed creeks in the rural areas that flow into Salmon Creek.[1] Klineline Pond and Battle Ground Lake are the only lakes within the watershed larger than 5 acres (20,000 m2).[2]
The lower watershed becomes increasingly urbanized as Salmon Creek nears I-5 and Vancouver while upper part of the watershed includes large-lot residential parcels and forested areas.[1] Most of the watershed is in unincorporated Clark County, however a significant part of the Woodin Creek sub-watershed includes the city of Battle Ground.[2] About 43 miles (69 km) of streams in this watershed are accessible to salmon. Winter steelhead, coho, and coastal cuttroat trout use Salmon Creek. A system of trails provides access to the Salmon Creek Greenway between I-5 and Northwest 36th Avenue. Salmon Creek is widely used by Clark County residents for fishing, swimming, and other recreational uses.[1]
The newly-built Kilineline Bridge carrying Highway 99 across Salmon Creek was completed in 2008 and features improved storm water collection, conveyance and treatment over the 1927 bridge it replaced. By preventing direct runoff of polluted storm water into the creek improves water quality and thereby improved the conditions of Salmon Creek. Salmon and steelhead that use the creek are currently listed as “threatened” by the federal Endangered Species Act. Streambed restoration during construction of the new Highway 99 bridge in 2008 additionally removed a partial fish barrier and enhanced the overall aquatic habitat.[3]
Klineline Bridge carrying Highway 99 over Salmon Creek was first built in 1927. The old bridge was judged unsafe for use in December 2007. Ostrander Rock and Construction of Longview won the construction contract with a bid that included completing the bridge within 160 days from start to finish. Work started in April 2008 and was completed on September 19, 2008, a week earlier than the contract deadline. The new span has four travel lanes, a center median, bicycle lanes, curb/gutter, sidewalks and two pedestrian overlooks with views of Salmon Creek. The county restored more than 650 feet of stream channel west of the bridge, which has improved salmon and steelhead passage both up and downstream.[4]
Salmon Creek is named such for the great salmon runs that migrated up the stream when early pioneers settled the area.[5] The unincorporated community of Salmon Creek is named for the stream. The Clark County Salmon Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant is located on the banks of lower Salmon Creek.[6] Just west of where Salmon Creek crosses under I-5, is Salmon Creek Regional Park/Klineline Pond, a popular swimming area.[7] Salmon Creek Greenway between I-5 and Northwest 36th Avenue, provides a protective barrier interlaced with hiking and biking trails.[1]